Deliver us from evil...

Sing praise to YHVH, you His godly ones, and give thanks to His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime;
Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:4-5

What a night! I awoke with a burden on my heart ...not for the soul of someone else, but for my own. Feeling dull and useless to my beloved Y'shua-Jesus, cast aside, and lost in my own thoughts instead of His; all I could do was pray "The Lords Prayer". It is what I do when my mind does not co-operate with my heart.

I love Hebrew. John Parsons of Hebrew for Christians, has written an essay on the Hebrew translation and meaning of the Lord's prayer. I go back to that essay when my mind is only spitting up rote words instead of letting my heart cry out to Messiah. The Spirit of the Almighty led me directly to the problem.

.Matthew 6:13b ..deliver us from evil...  hatzileinu min-hara

John Parsons essay said that this idea is yetzer hara.

...the inner impulse to gravitate toward selfish gratification (idolatry). This concept first appears in Genesis 6:5 where the wickedness of man is described as "every imagination yetzer of the thoughts of his heart was only evil ra"...

It is overwhelming to realize that my problem with sin is exactly the problem that brought the flood! Could my beloved LORD be sorry that he wasted His time with someone like me? Genesis 6:6-7 Despair! What hope is there for me? Wouldn't the evil one, min-hara be delighted if he could freeze us up with that horrible thought. I was almost there in the darkness of my morning.

Is God finished with me? Feeling a little numb I started flipping through Facebook and came across an Anne Graham-Lotz post. It was a verse of scripture that ended with the hash-tag #PrayerAndPraise. Why was that on FB? Aren't hash-tags for twitter? Curious, I clicked on it and came to a page filled with encouragement. The love of God began to flood every fiber of my being.

The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18 NIV #PrayerAndPraise 

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2 NIV #PrayerAndPraise 

he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. Isaiah 25:8 NIV #PrayerAndPraise

On and on it went until I came to Philippians 1:6

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 1:6 NIV #PrayerAndPraise

The amazing love that filled my soul and set my spirit to singing! I wanted to make this old body dance, to lift up my hands in praise... but for the sleeping, hard working man next to me who needed a few more hours of rest. Never mind! God is not through with me, I am not trash that He is sorry He tried to redeem. That is not who He is. With joy, I proclaim the words of Paul...

Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
    Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
    How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
    "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"
    "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?"
    For from him and through him and to him are all things.
    To him be the glory forever! Amen.  Romans 11: 30-36 NIV #PrayerAndPraise :)

Mrs. Hagerty, July 25, 2016

What is Faith?

What is faith? I ask because it is one of the most important words in the book of Romans. But when I ask this question, believers struggle to answer. Can you tell me what faith is?
  

Faith is not a force (like Star Wars). It is not a power, like magic. It is not something that comes from some object, like a cross worn as a piece of jewelry or your grandmother’s bible.

Faith is a verb. That was a surprise! The word faith comes from the Hebrew word “a’men.” That’s right, it comes from amen. So what does amen mean? We use the word amen as if it is the way to sign off from prayer. (Ten-four good buddy) Why do you say amen after prayer? I must confess that it is a habit that I have been taught. But amen is a verb with amazing meaning.

The first time Paul mentions faith-amen in the book of Romans is in chapter 1 verse 5; 

...through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the  obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake, (6) among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;

 Faith-amen is your promise to obey. MY promise? What does that mean? When we say “amen” we affirm that we will do something.

Hold on Mrs. Hagerty, haven’t you told us before that we are saved by Grace? Why do you say that “amen” means we will do something? I thought Y’shua-Jesus did everything for us.

Guard the treasure. You have heard that believers are soldiers. One thing soldiers are often asked to do is to stand-firm, meaning do not give up what you guard. Look at what Paul says about what we are to do with “the armor of God” in another letter he wrote.  

Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, Ephesians 6:11-14

Three times Paul tells us to “stand firm”. That is faith. In Hebrew that is “a’men” What is it we stand on? The Word of God. Why must we “a’men--stand firm”? We are in a war with the devil who schemes to get us to not believe the Word of the Almighty… just like he did to Eve. We are in the exact same battle. God told Adam truth. The devil asked Eve if God really said something, (meaning, could she really trust her husband) he suggested that God did not want her to have everything that the devil can give us. He comes (and will come) as a beautiful angel of light who brings us first hand, secret knowledge so that we can be like God, divine. That is what he offered Eve, that is what he will offer us with lust (a strong desire for something we want, 1 John 2:16) Stand firm (have faith-a’men); guard the treasure -- the Word of God, when the devil tries to seduce you. The armor of God is used to help us resist the devil on the evil day…. and evil days do not look like a storm. Often they are pretty days when we relax and enjoy life. Paul says, Stand firm on God’s Word, "wrapped in Truth" as if it was a belt. ( Y’shua-Jesus is the truth John 14:6, THAT is what we mean when we say "in Jesus name...) and putting on Righteousness… something you have only if you are a born-again believer.

 
Next time you say “in Jesus Name, amen” take a moment and think about your words. You have just made a promise to the Almighty, …do you know what you just promised? Matthew 12:36

June 3, 2016
Mrs. Hagerty

Morning Devotions: You are Beloved

The Apostle Paul opens and closes the letter to the Romans by reminding them that they are “beloved.”
 

Romans 1:7 to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 
A quick word study (you know I love those),
Beloved G27, can be translated, “favorites, object of affection” it is a word ONLY used for born again believers.
Saints- from the Hebrew word meaning “dedicated, set apart for the Almighty.
Grace (lovingkindness) and peace (shalom: the war is over, no more conflict)
 
After chapter 1 verse 7, Paul does not use the word “beloved” again until you get to Romans chapter 9 where he quotes the prophet Hosea, saying (H5971) 

‘AMIY my people, my kinsmen. 

This pretty word was used by Boaz in the book of Ruth when he chose to redeem her as his bride. Ruth was a Moabite, a woman born as an enemy of the people of Israel. It is also used of the prostitute Gomer that Hosea married. The most undeserving of women were called “beloved”. It is the same with us. We do not deserve to be called the people of the Almighty, the bride of Christ, but Y’shua-Jesus still died to pay the price for us to be called beloved. We are free to dedicate our lives to Him because of His Lovingkindness (grace) and Shalom (peace) 

 
It is a precious gift we have been given. New life, beloved. The freedom to choose what you will do with this love is yours. As for me and my house? We will gladly serve Him. 

Mrs. Hagerty
June 1, 2016

Romans 9:14-26What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For He says to Moses,
"I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION." (Exodus 33:19) So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh,
"FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH." (Exodus 9:16) So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.
 You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?"  On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles. As He says also in Hosea,
 " I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, 'MY PEOPLE,' AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, 'BELOVED.'" (Hosea 2:23)26 "AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, 'YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,' THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING GOD." (Hosea 1:10)

Morning Devotions: The Promise, Romans 1:1-2, Genesis 12:1-9

The very first verse of this awesome book we have been jumping through, Romans 1:1, introduces us to a man named Paul. The first thing he tells us is that he is a slave of the Son of God. His assignment is to be an apostle, an ambassador or missionary, for the gospel that God promised long ago through his prophets in the Scriptures.

Romans 1:1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, nasu

What exactly was it that was promised? Paul starts with Abraham so that is where I will start. Genesis 12:1

Now YHVH said to Abram,
   "Go forth from your country,
    And from your relatives
    And from your father's house,
    To the land which I will show you;

The Almighty calls Abram to leave his country, his relatives and his father’s house. Everything that had ever been familiar or gave him comfort for his future and his earthly identity, he had to agree to leave these behind. Where was he going? Someplace that the Almighty would show him. That was it.

     There were a few perks to encourage him. He would be a great nation, he would have the Almighty’s blessing (favor), His name would be great, he would be a blessing, those who favor (bless) him would also be favored, those who despise him (curse) would also be despised. And finally “IN” him all the families of the earth will be blessed. (more on that as we look at The Promise later on) Would you go if it was you the Almighty made this promise to?

     Do you know where “heaven” is? IF you are a believer that is where you have been called to. You do not know where heaven is, only that you are going there. If you believe, then you are part of the great nation; though you have not met most of your fellow citizens. You are blessed by God. I know that we have an enemy in the spirit realm; an enemy who hates us with perfect hate. There are days when his hate is so overwhelming that it is easy to overlook how loved we are by the Almighty, but we are! The promises made to Abraham when the world was still fresh and new are the same promises made to whoever believes as the world winds down. The promise comes through Y’shua, known to most as Jesus. He is the one who would bless the families of the world… like me, like you. It is through his death, his blood, that our sin was paid for. In his resurrection we also have life. Even though we are on our way to the place we have not seen yet, we do not walk alone. We have been given the breath of God, the Holy Spirit for our comfort and instruction, and even to convict us of our sin when we make a wrong turn. All this is yours IF you believe. Do you? 

May 26, 2016

Mrs. Hagerty

Romans 1:1-2 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures,
 Genesis 12:1-9Now YHVH said to Abram,
"Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse.  And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."
So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan. Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanite was then in the land. YHVH  appeared to Abram and said, " To your descendants I will give this land." So he built an altar there to YHVH who had appeared to him. Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to YHVH and called upon the name of YHVH. Abram journeyed on, continuing toward the Negev.

Morning Devotions: How to be Happy

Romans 4:1-13 ‘echar (bliss)

Romans 4:4-8 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,  just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
  "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. (Psalm 32:1) "BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT." (Psalm 32:2)

     Did you catch what Paul said in Romans about David? He was quoting King David from Psalm 32:1. If you want joy (blessedness) then stop working at it. (Psalm 32:1-2) 

Lavorrya M Nightingale Photo

     The word translated “blessedness” comes from a derivative of the Greek word “makarios” which was translated from the Hebrew word ‘echar, H835. It means “bliss-happiness.” It is a word that comes from finishing the race without taking short-cuts or cheating. Normally, blessed means receiving the favor of the Almighty, but this is different. You hear believers talk about tragedies in life as a blessing in disguise. A sick child, loss of income, even cancer is said to be “a blessing in disguise.” What they are telling me is that they have something impossible to endure, but they have the favor of God on their lives and that they can both see as well as feel it. Blessedness, ‘echar is similar in origin (knowing the favor of the Almighty) but is the word that describes the unexplainable happiness, the bliss we experience, as a result of His favor on us when there is no earthly reason to feel good about what is happening. Whoever wrote Hebrews, spoke of this bliss, this joy. 
 

Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us (Read Hebrews 11:32-40), let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. nasu

     No one said it would be easy. There are things in life that are hard, they must be endured. We have a cruel enemy, filled with hate. He wants us to become a slave to his view of our world (again…. because that enemy, that prince, is what we were saved from). It would come close to being delight for him if you threw in the towel, stopped enduring and cursed God for your circumstances. If the Serpent were capable of feeling delight then he would feel it if you lashed out in anger, “Why me!”

I have discovered that the answer to “Why me?” is not for me, but for the Serpent. How do I know this? I realized it when reading the opening chapter of the Book of Job.

Job 1:8-12YHVH said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job?
 For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil."  Then Satan answered YHVH, "Does Job fear God for nothing?  "Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed (the favor of The Almighty)  the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.  But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has;
 he will surely curse You to Your face."
 Then YHVH said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him." So Satan departed from the presence of YHVH.

     Satan thinks that believers want only comfort and happiness from the Almighty. If the things that make life easy are removed he believes (from long experience) that we will curse God. The Almighty trusts us to endure difficulty in this life because of the hope of what comes in the next life (Hebrews 12:1-2) turning away from evil, not for the things of the world, but for the bliss (blessedness) of being a child of the Almighty)

     I had to ask myself, would the Almighty trust me enough to say, “Have you (Satan) considered my servant Deb?” Is my happiness tied up in happy, obedient, believing children, a lovely marriage where I am the cherished princess to my lord, a healthy body, a comfortable home, friends who like being around me, and answers to life from the Bible that inspires others to believe?

     What if, in a single season, you lost your children (one of mine became addicted to Meth and alcohol and went to jail).

     What if, in that same season your marriage was put to the test as you both look at each other with accusing hearts, because you know that you did everything you could to drug proof your precious child, so the problem with your beloved child must be with your spouse. (In case you want to cast blame for your child's problem, remember that if you or your spouse were in charge of choices, you child would NEVER put a cigarette, the overwhelming gateway drug, to their lips; that was the child’s choice, not yours or your spouses.)

     What if, in that same season, your health and home went away. In my case it was panic attacks that would overwhelm me. We sold our home to pay for all the expenses that an extended stay in jail puts on a family, a good lawyer, rehab, a car that was destroyed, etc

     Friends dropped like flies, just in case what happened to us was catchy, though there were a few of “Job’s friends” who would come around to tell us that our sin is what caused all of this. Something we spent time before the throne of God confessing, but the conviction did not come from the Almighty (who does not ask us to earn our way to His Kingdom but gives it as a free gift that Y’shua-Jesus earned for us). No one came to my Bible Studies any more (twenty-ish used to be the average size of my classes). We nearly went under emotionally, but we never once felt an urge to “curse God to his face” not that there were not unbelieving family members who encouraged us to give up the whole “holier than thou church scene”

      Sitting in court one day, drained, unable to pray anything, but to only repeat the word, “Mercy” to the Almighty, waiting to hear the fate of our beloved child, expecting years of prison time in spite of all we had done (from the day he was born), we gleaned a fresh understanding of the meaning of blessed, having the favor of the LORD, and of blessedness, the bliss that you cannot earn.

,,,,God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13b

Endurance is not easy. But it is worth it! 

Mrs. Hagerty, May 24, 2016

Today’s reading

Romans 4:1-13What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? 

"ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." 

Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
 "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. (Psalm 32:1)"BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT." (Psalm 32:2) Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, "FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.
 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Morning Devotions: What if some do not believe?

AHMAHN-believe IV Romans 3:3-26

Romans 3:3-9 Question? If some (Jews, keepers of the Almighty’s Word) did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?  May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written,"THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED." (Psalm 51:4)But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.) May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world?  But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?  And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), “Let us do evil that good may come"? Their condemnation is just. 

  When I became a believer in Jesus, I wanted to tell everyone. My thought was that they surely must be as ignorant as I was because if you know about Salvation, you will want to be saved. I remember feeling both shocked and sad when people that I loved, people that I thought were above average smart would blow off the gift of the Almighty as they wondered aloud why woman like myself, strong, smart and raised to be independent, would need such a “crutch” or why I would buy-into myths. Person after beloved person would flat out reject my Jesus. Surly the problem was me and not them. 

     I started taking classes on how to share the gospel. My gift is not evangelism (trust me, I have witnessed those with this gift bring many into the kingdom, there really is something to having that amazing gift) so I began to take classes on how to witness effectively. I have led strangers and children to the kingdom, but not the adults I long to reach. Could it be that my former friends and family were right? The amazing Paul of Tarsus addressed this question in Chapter 3 of the book of Romans. He begins by reminding me that the Jews are an amazing people; the Almighty has entrusted his word, supernaturally delivered, to this people. The problem is that even among the Jews there are those who do not believe in Y’shua HaMashiach – Jesus who is the Christ. If some of the keepers and guardians of the Word of God do not believe the Word, does that mean that I really am a fool for trusting my life to it? 

Romans 3:9-20 Question? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written,
"THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;  THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE." (Psalm 14:1-3 and Psalm 53:1-3)  "THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING," (Psalm 5:9)  "THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS"; (Psalm 140:3)  "WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS"; (Psalm 10:7)  "THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS, AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN." (Isaiah 59:7-12)  "THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES." (Psalm 36:1)
Now we know that whatever the Torah says, it speaks to those who are under the Torah, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works in the Torah no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Torah comes the knowledge of sin. 

     No! Y’shua-Jesus is Truth, men are liars who live by the lies of their father the devil. The only hope for them is to be born again, no longer a child of the devil but born from above, a child of YHVH.

John 8:42-46 Jesus said to them (the religious), "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word.  You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.  But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. nasu John 14:6 Jesus said to him (an overwhelmed believer), "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. 

     Why must we be born-again? Our first physical birth was into this world, the slave master is the devil, you are his because you were born. To be born-again is to die to “self” which is the liar, the element of who you are that believes the devil and wants the easy life that he rewards to those who cheat, who steal, who are unfaithful, who lie, who step on the hearts of others to gain some position or money in this world. Then, one day, someone comes and tells you about Y’shua-Jesus. He is The Way of life, he is Truth, He is true Life. The world has prepared you to reject him, the devil doesn’t want to let his slave go free any more then the Pharaoh of Egypt did not want to let his slaves go free. But the hope of freedom nags at you, the thought will not go away. 

Romans 3:21-26 But now apart from the Torah the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Torah and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 

     Beloved, ask this God of Truth to prove himself to you. You will find yourself thinking that his faithfulness was just a coincidence after he does just that. Make some kind of bargain with him, you will discover that you are the one who does not keep your end of it. All men are liars in our natural state. Abba (the Father) sent his own Holy Spirit to let you know that there is something better, something you can trust with your life. He sends other believers to tell you what God has done for them, His word is available for you to read. Even with all of these witnesses of the truth, you still must be born again or you will never go from the father of lies to eternal life as a child of God. 

Call upon the Name of the Almighty, and you will be Y’shua-ed (saved). Then go and tell someone. I would love it if it was me. 
May 20, 2016 
Mrs. Hagerty 

Word of the week: Believe part II

AHMAHN-believe II  

    Yesterday I introduced the word AHMAHN (-believe) and its connection to righteousness (living right before the Almighty). You do not have righteousness without AHMAHN (-BELIEVE).

And he (Abraham) believed (AHMAHN) YHVH and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6

     We often hear adults say that we need to be fruit inspectors. Being a fruit inspector comes from the idea that who you are shows in your life. We should be able to see believers because they have recognizable traits. The apostle Paul gives us a basic list of “fruit of the Spirit in the fifth chapter of the letter to the Galatians.

Those who do not believe (including religious people) will display the following “fruit”

 Now the deeds of the flesh (meaning natural people) are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-22

People who believe in Y’shua-Jesus have a super-natural power to show the following “fruit” 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires  Galatians 5:22-24

.

Now, back to the word AHMAHN –Believe. The first place you can find the word is in Genesis, when Abraham AHMAHN –Believed the Almighty

Then he (Abraham) believed in YHVH; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6

The word "reckoned" (from Genesis 15:6) is an accounting word. You were “overdrawn” (spent far more then you have) with sin. As long as the Word of God is just a self-help book to you, you will never be able to pay the sin-debt that you owe. When your life on earth ends, you will spend eternity in the debtors prison we call Hell. There will be no time off for good behavior, the sentence cannot be paid in years… years will not be part of eternity. The choices you make in your life TIME are the choices you will live with in eternity.  Here is the Good News (Gospel fact!). If you believe (AHMAHN) the Almighty (remember, believe is a verb) He reckons (balances your account, pays the debt that you will NEVER be able to pay) your life-account righteousness. You will be "born again". 

     The Word of the Almighty will no longer be a stupid, frustrating self-help book. The Bible, the Word of the Almighty is alive… (Hebrews 4:12). To believe (AHMAHN) is to be yoked to him (Matthew 11:29). 

What is it that you must believe to reckon your sin account? 

Do you know God? Take the 10 Commandment test. Have you ever told a lie? (commandment 9). Have you ever taken something that does not belong to you? (Commandment #8), Have you ever disappointed your mom or dad? (Commandment #5) OMG! Have you ever used God’s name like a curse word? (Commandment #3) How are you doing so far? I have not even mentioned Commandment #10, wishing that you had some thing that does not belong to you.

1. The Problem: No one can pass the 10 commandment test. Try as hard as you can, you will still fall short. Ever kill someone (Commandment #6), Jesus said that if you are angry with someone, or call them an air-head (raca) you are guilty of murdering them (Matthew 5:21-22)  For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Romans 1:21

2. No one can just be “good” enough for heaven for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23

3. God loves you and provided the only possible solution to “reckon your sin account.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

4. You cannot balance your own sin-account, you owe too much and the price for just one sin is death, once you pay that, you cannot come back from it. Jesus NEVER sinned, he was able AND willing to pay off your debt, that is what it means when people say, Jesus died for your sin.   For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

5. The gift is not automatic, so how do you accept the free gift of eternal life?      that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;  for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10

6.  A person who believes is righteous before God, and what makes you righteous? The life of Jesus does. He took your life and paid everything you owe, now you take his life and let him live through you.   For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:36

Mrs. Hagerty
May 18, 2016

Morning Devotions: Believe

AHMAHN (ah-moon) H529

even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is not distinction; Romans 3:22

Par ici et par la

   This week is all about the Hebrew word AHMAHN (ah-moon) H529 It is a verb that means “believe”. It is the inward attitude that manifests as righteousness.

     In English we use the word to agree with a fact, such as believing that George Washington was the first president of the United States; or that E=mc² (energy is equal to mass multiplied by the speed of light squared). This mental agreement is not the belief that I am talking about. To AHMAHN is an attitude that affects how you live. If I say that I believe something but it has no affect on how I live then it is not AHMAHN. It is just mental agreement that something is correct. James said that the devil has this kind of belief, but it does not change how he lives his life.

James 2:19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

 The belief I am talking about is life changing. We call it, being born again, because it is so radical. 

     The Hebrew idea of AHMAHN-believe is to take Y’shua-Jesus' yoke upon you.

Matthew 11:29. "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS (Jeremiah 6:16)

AHMAHN-believe involves being washed in the blood of Y’shua the Lamb, watered by the word of the Almighty, producing amazing growth living in The Way of truth. Do you have this? It involves trustingY’shua-Jesus with your heart, with your life, with how you live. I am excited to examine AHMAHN this week, I hope you are too. 

Mrs. Hagerty
May 17, 2016

Morning Devotions: CHANNAH-grace IV Romans 11:33 – 12:21

This week has been dedicated to learning about CHANNAH-grace as taught by Paul to the Romans. In today’s passage, Romans 11:33--12:21,  he urges us to put it all together (the Greek word translated “For” in 12:3 is Lego which means ‘put the ideas together, take a moment to stop and just think-meditate). You know that when you are born again, the Almighty gives you his Spirit. His breath to you (Spirit means breath and wind). You become alive in him instead of dead. He gives you CHANNAH-grace, which we have seen through the pictograph of the Hebrew letters for grace. (protected within the hedge of thorns, growing and moving on The Way-with insight from above). CHANNAH-grace is not just kindness for believers, it is a way of living worthy of the blood of Y’shua-Jesus. 

Par ici et par la

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For 

WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF YHVH, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? (Isaiah 40:13f)
Or 

WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? (Job 35:11, 41:11) 

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

 It is appropriate to warn you that, even though you will not lose your Salvation (or that Y’shua-Jesus which means Salvation, will not lose you), it is possible to step outside of the protection of CHANNAH-grace. Take a moment to open your Bible and read about the Prodigal Son. Luke 15: 11-32. This, in part, is the story of a beloved son who left the kingdom of his father and the fellowship of his brother for the things the world offered (1 John 2:16). The Father let him go. He was never anything but a son to the father, nor was he forgotten by the father. The fruit of his life, of living as a friend of the world, was shame. The father did not shame him, but the world devoured everything he had and reduced him to poverty, until he came to his senses. 

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Oddly enough, the words translated “sound judgment” or “think soberly” in Romans 12:3 is the same word used to communicate that the prodigal son came to his “right mind”. 

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 

Let  love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be  devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving YHVH; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. 

Beloved, if you are living in the protective hedge of CHANNAH-grace, you have constant access to a generous measure of this “sound judgment”. But, if you find that you have lost your way, lured like some stupid fish chasing a pretty thing or a bright tid-bit and fear you cannot release yourself from the hook that is controlling your life, let me encourage you. Turn to Y’shua-Jesus. When we confess our sins, he is faithful, and just, to forgive us of our sin and lead us in the everlasting way. (1 John 1:9) He pulls out the hook. Instead of dragging us, he leads and guides us as a shepherd. It starts with humble repentance. The result is Glory! You can do this! 

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written,
"VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," (Proverbs 20:22 and 24:29) says YHVH
"BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD." (Proverbs 25:21-22)Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. nasu

May 13. 2016 

Mrs. Hagerty

Morning Devotions: Grace III Romans

Par ici et par la

    This week I have been telling you about CHANNAH which is the Hebrew word for grace.Yesterday I wrote to you about justification connection to grace, which is a legal ruling of being righteous as a citizen of the Kingdom of the Almighty. Before you can live in the flesh by grace, you must be born again. There is no other way to be justified… but that was yesterday’s note.

     Today I want to tell you a little bit about Abraham and the CHANNAH-Grace that gave him his life. 

Romans 3:28-4:5For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Torah-Law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.
Do we then nullify the Torah-Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Torah-Law.What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say?
"ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."  Genesis 15:6Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, 

     In his day, Abraham was a man whose life was celebrated because of his amazing life. Everything he touched seemed to turn to gold. He was wealthy in every way, a statesman, and a pious man. We remember the mistakes he made in his life, not because he was corrupt or rebellious, but because his sin was so uncharacteristic that it shocks both us and the people of his era. His life was a fantastic example of right living…. but not before the Almighty. What men value in life and what the Almighty looks for in a person are not the same.

 He (Abraham) believed YHVH (the LORD); and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6

     You can go read Genesis 15 to see the context of what Abraham believed. But Abraham's belief did not stop with knowing that the Almighty would give him what he had no evidence of. In chapter 22 of Genesis YHVH tells Abraham that he must sacrifice what he loves the most in his life, his only son Isaac.  Abraham was willing to obey.

Was it because of Abraham's willingness to DO what the Almighty asked that reckoned him righteous? No! It was because he believed that the Almighty does what He says He will do.

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;  it was he to whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED." He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type. Hebrews 11:17-19 

Why do we have to do anything at all if we are not doing it to earn the favor of YHVH in the way people in other religions do because of their god? The works we do are a testimony to the World of the love and power of the Almighty through those who live in CHANNAH-Grace. (Hebrews 11:17-19). People are people. They see what we do a long time before they see our LORD. We obey the Word-Scripture as a testimony of a loving and all-powerful God to a lost world, a world headed for eternal damnation. But we live and are reckoned righteous, because of the glorious CHANNAH-grace of him who gave his only beloved son. That is Salvation (and Salvation, translated Y'shua, is who we call Jesus)

May 12, 2016
Mrs. Hagerty